Truck loading and unloading mechanism



Oct. 20, 1953 F FOOTE 2,656,058

TRUCK LOADING AND UNLOADING MECHANISM Filed April 10. 1948 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALFRED Fl FOOTE.

4 T'TO zalrew BY I 0% Oct. 20, 1953 FOOTE 2,656,058

TRUCK LOADING AND UNLOADING MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ALFRED F: FOOTE BY ATTOENEYS.

wide variety of vehicles, it is here shown attached to the right front corner of the dump body formed by the intersection of the front wall I and side wall 2 of such body. It will be understood that such truck may be provided with the usual hydraulic lifting means for tipping the body to discharge a load from the rear end thereof, such lifting means being operated by a pump 3 driven by the engine of the truck (not shown).

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5. my device comprises a pantograph arrangement including a vertical column 4 having a bearing 5 at its lower end journalled in bracket 6 mounted at the lower right front corner of the dump body. The upper end of column d is provided with a stud pivotally engaged in upper bracket i similarly mounted on such body.

Pivotally secured to column 4 for oscillation in the same vertical plane are upper link member 8 and lower link member 9, such links being of equal length. The outer ends of such links are pivotally connected by a vertical link it of a length equal to the distance between the points of pivotal attachment of links 8 and 9 on column 4. Such links may all desirably be formed of steel tubing of square cross-section. A tubular member H extends horizontally from a braced bracket support 12 mounted at the lower end of link Hi. It will therefore be seen that such member ll will always be maintained in a horizontal position at any degree of elevation.

Means for raising and lowering such member is provided in the form of a fluid operated piston cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder l3 and 2. piston i l. The outer end of piston M is pivotally secured at the point of pivotal connection of link members 8 and I and the end of cylinder i3 is pivotally mounted on column 3 adjacent the point of pivotal attachment of link 9 thereon. Such piston cylinder assembly therefore comprises a diagonally disposed extensible link within the parallelogram formed by column i and links 8, 9 and H]. While such piston cylinder assembly may be of either the double acting or single acting type, the latter form will ordinarily be satisfactory and a slide valve i is mounted on upper link member 8 to control the passage of hydraulic fluid thereto, fluid pressure lines leading from pump 3 to such valve and from the valve to the respective ends of cylinder l3. A valve shifting rod 16 is pivotally attached to hand lever I! pivotally mounted on link 8. Spring means (not shown) within valve l5 normally holds such valve in neutral position preventing passage of fluid pressure to the lower end of cylinder [3 or escape of fluid therefrom. To elevate the mechanism, lever ll will be moved to shift rod IE to connect the lower end of cylinder l3 to pressure. To lower the device, lever I? will be shifted to connect the lower end of cylinder l3 to exhaust. Hand lines l8 and i9 are attached to a cross member 25.! rigidly secured to lever i! so that the latter may be rocked by remote control, if desired, to operate valve 15.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, a platform 21 is pivotally mounted on horizontal tubular member II at a slight diagonal so that it may be approximately parallel to the side 2 of the truck body when in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. A rigid brace leg 22 is provided pivotally attached to link [0 adjacent the upper end of the latter and adapted to be releasably secured to the outer side of platform 2 I, thereby holding the latter in a horizontal plane. When it is desired to travel on the road such brace 22 may be disengaged and platform 2| turned until it is in a vertical plane whereupon the entire mechanism will lie close against the side 2 of the truck body and may be secured in such position by means of a chain 23 attached to such side and one corner of the platform.

A modified construction is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, the platform being there designed for dumping a load within the body of the truck. A small auxiliary platform 24 sufficiently large to carry an operator standing thereon is hingedly mounted on the outside of bracket member 12. A brace leg 25 corresponding to brace 22 is provided to support such platform 24 in horizontal position. A portion of platform 2! overlies platform 24 and is adapted to rest thereon. To prevent platform 2! from tipping in the other direction on its pivotal supporting member H, a hook 26 is pivotally mounted on the outer side of platform 2i adapted to engage the under side of platform M. A spring 21 acts on such hook to normally hold the same in locking engagement with platform 24. A trip cord 28 passing over pulley 2B is operative to disengage hook 2% from platform 24 and thereupon permit platform 2! to be overloalanced to discharge its load into the body of the truck. Platform 2| may then be returned to horizontal position, either manually or by means of a spring 38 attached to platforms 2i and 24. Upon releasing brace leg 25 from platform 2 both platforms may be folded against the side of the truck as above described.

' Referring now to Fig. 7 of the drawing, in the modification there illustrated column 4 is shown pivotally supported at its upper and lower ends by a vertical mast 3i firmly mounted on the bed 32 of a truck. Instead of link H3, 2. corresponding link member 33 is provided having an integral horizontal boom member 34 extending from the upper end thereof. It will be seen that such member 34 will similarly-to member I! always be maintained in a horizontal position irrespective of the height to which it may be elevated by actuation of the piston cylinder assembly. A ring 35 is supported on boom 34 and is adapted to be slid therealong toward and away from member 33. An upstanding lug 36 serves to prevent such ring from accidentally escaping from the end of the boom. A hook 3? may be suspended from such ring by means of a cable 33.

The foregoing description and annexed drawings serve to illustrate various modifications of the basic principles of my invention. Since column l is enabled to pivot about its vertical axis, platform 2i may be extended laterally of the vehicle either at ground level or at an elevation high above the body of such vehicle. There is usually no necessity for driving the vehicle into an exactly predetermined position for loading. A single operator may ride with the load or one operator may place the boxes, etc. on the platform at ground level and control the action of the lift by means of lines is and is while a second worker in the body of the truck removes and stacks the goods.

Due to the mounting of member i i and boom 3% at right angles to link members it and 33 respectively, they will always be maintained level irrespective of the height to which the fluid pressure actuated pantograph mechanism may elevate the same. This not only makes the use of platform El and sliding ring 35 feasible but also provides a very rigid structure capable of carrying heavy loadsv V A brace: leg -of: the type .-com:-:. monly. employedeto rest; on the, ground and. sup-g; port the body! of thelvehicle onrthe sidetoward the loadmay also be \providedif-desired; a

Bracketsfi and l supporting. columnz l extend.

preciated that 'iIlSteadSOf -a.flatt platform ::2 it;

various types of containers, buckets and the like maybe substituted to handle an appropriateloadu;

When the platform is turnedflat againsttheside of -the;body,:the entire device .yvill" project very-- slightly, if at all, beyond the sideiof thedriv'erfs cab.

Lanyard 2 8:not.only serves to disengage hook 2 5 but. acontinued :pull thereon. .will tip. platform- 2! to discharge-thelatters 'contents into the body of the avehiclep Ifthecenter:ofzgravityof the load is toward the innerside of the platform it will, of course, tip automaticallywhen-110011 26 3 is thus. disengaged.-

In the Fig. 7 form: the lower pivot for column i may either be central of the width of thebed Y for loading from either side' or adjacent one side a of the bed for'loadingfrom that side only. This form of device is very convenientfor loading plows and other farm implements which are ordi- W narily very awkward and even dangerous to handle;

Due tothe structural conformation of the imparts a maximum of mechanism which strength and. rigidity thereto, the component members may-be of relatively lightweight tubing reason and sea result of the simple construction which facilitates rapid assembly from stock While shown mounted on a truck body, it isreadily apparent that the device is adapted to bemounted upon a great variety of vehicles.

The fluid pressure means for operating the piston-cylinder assembly may beeither hydraulic or pneumatic but the former is preferred. be apparent that such piston-cylinderassembly,

It will which serves as a diagonal cross brace as well as the lifting means, could alternatively be disposed on the other diagonal ofthe parallelogram formed by thelink members. Fluid pressure would then require-to be employed to retract the piston,

rather than extend the same, to elevate a load.

Instead of the type of platform shown, a pallet lift fork or the-like maybe provided.

Other-modesof applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change beingmade as regards the "details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claimsor' the equivalent of such'be employed;

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. Lifting -mechanism comprising a vertical column pivotally mounted for rotatio'n about itsvertical axis, spaced parallel link members-ofequal-length pivotally secured to said-column formovement in the samevertical plane-,a third link pivotally connecting-the'outer ends of said spaced linlc'members; said third link being of a length equal to the distance between the points of pivotal' attachment of said spaced link members -to said column,-whereby-said links and column definea parallelogramsa ;pis.ton-;cylinder;assemblyipivote allyi .mounted =:substantially; diagonally.:;on-. :,saida means and for releasing' and tipping said loadsupporting platform."

2. Lifting mechanismcomprising a vertical column pivotally-mountedfor rotation about its' ver-:- tical axis, spaced-parallel link: members ofequal ii -length pivotally secured to said columnfor move--- ment in the same vertical plane, a third linkpivotally connecting the outer ends of said 'spaced link members, said third link being of a length"- equal to the distance between the points of piv. otal attachment of said spaced link members-to said-column, whereby said links and column de-'- fine a parallelogram,a piston-cylinder assembly pivotally mounted substantially diagonallyon' said parallelogram structure, fluid i' pressure means operative to move suchpiston to elevate said third link relative to said co1umn,a platform mounted on said third link for pivotal movement about'a horizontal axis lying in thesame plane as said links, meansiadapted releasably to secure said platform in horizontal position and in a position turned into a vertical plane substantially that of said parallelogramstructure, and hand-*- controlled regulatorymeans for said fluid pressure means carried by said mechanism within reach of an operator riding on said platform.

3. Lifting mechanism comprising a vertical column pivotally mountedfor rotation about its vertical axis, spaced parallel link members of equallength pivotally secured to said column formovement in the same vertical plane, a third link piv otally connecting the outer ends of said spaced link members, said third link being of a length equal to the distance between'the points of-pivotal attachment of said spaced link members to said column, whereby said linksand column de fine a parallelogram, an extensible brace member pivotally mounted substantially diagonally on such parallelogram structure, fluid pressure means operative'to vary the length of said bracemember to. elevate said third link, a platform l mounted on-said third link for pivotal movement about a horizontal axislying in the same plane as-said links, and means adapted releasably to secure said platform in horizontal position and in a position turned into a vertical plane substantially that of said parallelogram structure.

4. Lifting mechanism-comprising a pantograph structure disposed in a vertical plane, one side member of said structure being adapted to bepivotally mounted in "a vertical position to-serve'- as a supporting column,- an extensible brace member pivotally mounted substantially diagonally on said structure, fluid pressure means operative to vary'the'length 'of' saidbrace member to elevate the vertical pantograph member par allel and opposite to said column, and a horizon-- tal; load-supporting platform mountedon suchverticalzelevatable member and adapted to turn" into a :vertical. plane substantially that of said pantographistructure.

- porting column, an extensible brace member pivotally mounted substantially diagonally on said structure, means operative to vary the length of said brace member to elevate the vertical pantograph member parallel and opposite to said column, and a horizontal, load-supporting platform mounted on such vertical elevatable member and adapted to turn into a vertical plane substantially that of said pantograph structure.

6. Lifting means comprising a single pantograph structure mounted on the side of a vehicle in a vertical plane generally parallel to and closely adjacent such side, said structure including a pair of spaced parallel pivotally mounted links of equal length, and a vertical member pivotally connecting said links and maintained thereby in a vertical position in all positions of said links, means operative to raise and lower said member, a pivotally mounted load support ing platform carried by said member, and means adapted selectively to secure said platform in horizontal load supporting position and in a position turned into a vertical plane substantially that of mi pantograph structure.

7. Lifting means comprising a single pantograph structure mounted on the side of a vehicle in a vertical plane generally parallel to and closely adjacent such side, said structure including a pair of spaced parallel links of equal length mounted on such vehicle for pivotal movement about horizontal axes, and a vertical member pivotally connecting said links and maintained thereby in such vertical position in all positions of said links, means operative to raise and lower said member, and a horizontal load-supporting platform rigidly secured to said vertical member, said pantograph structure being mounted for Swinging movement as a unit about a vertical axis.

8. In combination with a vehicle having a loadcarrying body, load-lifting mechanism mounted thereon comprising a vertical column pivotally mounted adjacent a corner of such body for rotation about its vertical axis, two vertically spaced parallel links of equal length pivotally secured to said column for movement in the same vertical plane, a vertical link member pivotally connecting said first-named links and being of a length equal to the distance between the points of pivotal attachment or said links to said column, a horizontal support member secured to said vertical link member and extending in the plane of said links, a platform supported generally centrally by said support member for pivotal movement about an axis lying in the same plane as said links, means adapted releasably to secure said platform selectively in horizontal position and turned in a vertical plane substantially that of said links, a piston cylinder assembly pivotally mounted substantially diagonally on the parallelogram structure formedby said links, and fluid pressure means operative to move such piston to elevate said vertical link member and platform carried thereby.

9. In combination with a vehicle having a loadcarrying body, load-lifting mechanism mounted thereon comprising a vertical column pivotally mounted adjacent a side of such body for rotation about its vertical axis, two vertically spaced parallel links of equal length pivotally secured to said column for movement in the same vertical plane, a vertical link member pivotally connecting said first-named links and being of a length equal to the distance between the points of pivotal attachment of said links to said column, a horizontal support member secured to said vertical link member adjacent the lower end thereof and extending in the plane of said links, a platform supported generally centrally by said support member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis lying in the same plane as said links, means adapted releasably to secure said platform selectively in horizontal position and turned in a vertical plane substantially that of said links, and power means operative to raise and lower the parallelogram structure and platform carried thereby.

10. In combination with a vehicle having a load-carrying body, load lifting mechanism mounted thereon comprising a pantograph structure mounted adjacent a side of such body for swinging movement about a vertical axis, said structure including a pair of spaced parallel links of equal length pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement, a vertical link member pivotally connecting said parallel links and maintained thereby in vertical position in all positions of the latter, a horizontal support member secured to said vertical link member and extending in the plane of said links, a platform supported generally centrally by said support member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis lying in the same plane as said links, means adapted releasably to secure said platform selectively in horizontal position and turned in a vertical plane substantially that of said links, and power means operative to raise and lower the parallelogram structure and platform carried thereby, said support member extending obliquely relative to the side of said platform adjacent such body and diverging from such side of said platform in a direction away from such point of mounting of said pantograph structure whereby said platform is permitted to lie closely adjacent to such body when in horizontal position.

11. In combination with a vehicle having a load-carrying body, load-lifting mechanism mounted thereon comprising a pantograph structure mounted adjacent a side of such body for swinging movement about a vertical axis, said structure including a pair of spaced parallel links of equal length pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement, a vertical link member pivotally connecting said parallel links and maintained thereby in vertical position in all positions of the latter, a horizontal support member secured to said vertical link member and extending in the plane of said links, a rectangular platform supported generally centrally by said support member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis lying in the same plane as said links, means adapted releasably to secure said platform selectively in horizontal position and turned in a vertical plane substantially that of said links, and power means operative to raise and lower said pantograph structure and platform carried there y, said support member extending somewhat diagonally of said platform and diverging from the side of the latter adjacent such body in a direction away from such point of mounting of said pantograph structure whereby said Platform is permitted to lie closely adjacent to such body when in horizontal position.

12. In combination with a vehicle having a. load-carrying body with vertical sides, load-lifting mechanism mounted thereon comprising a vertical column pivotally mounted adjacent a side of such body for rotation about its vertical axis, two vertically spaced parallel links of equal length pivotally secured to said column for movement in the same vertical plane, a vertical link member pivotally connecting said first-named links and being of a length equal to the distance between the points of pivotal attachment of said links to said column, a horizontal support member secured to said vertical link adjacent the lower end thereof and extending in the plane of said links, a platform supported generally centrally by said support member for pivotal movement thereabout, said support member lying closely parallel to the plane of said platform and extending obliquely relative to the side of the latter adjacent such side of such body and diverging from such side of said platform in a direction away from said column, whereby said platform is permitted to lie closely adjacent to such side of such body when in horizontal position, means adapted releasably to secure said platform selectively in horizontal position and turned in a vertical plane substantially that of said links, and means operative to raise and lower said pantograph structure and platform carried thereby.

13. Lifting means comprising a single pantograph structure mounted on the side of a vehicle for swinging movement about a vertical axis, said structure including a pair of spaced parallel pivotally mounted links of equal length, and a vertical member pivotally connecting said links and. maintained thereby in a vertical position in all positions of said links, means operative to raise and lower said member, a horizontal support member secured to said vertical member and extending in the plane of said pantograph structure, a platform supported generally centrally by said support member for pivotal movement thereabout, said support member lying closely parallel to the plane of said platform and extending obliquely relative to the side thereof adjacent such vehicle and diverging therefrom in a direction away from such point of mounting of said pantograph structure on the side of said vehicle, and means adapted selectively to secure said platform in horizontal position and in a position turned into a vertical plane substantially that of said pantograph structure.

14. Lifting means for use in the side loading of a vehicle comprising a lifting structure mounted in a vertical plane on a side of such vehicle, means operative to raise and lower such structure, support means carried by the lifting structure and maintained thereby in a horizontal plane at all times during the raising and lowering of such structure, a work supporting platform pivotally mounted on said support means, and means selectively operative to secure said platform in horizontal load supporting position and in a vertical plane adjacent the side of such vehicle whereby the platform may be held flat against the vehicle side when not in use.

15. Lifting means for use in the side loading of a vehicle comprising a lifting structure disposed in a vertical plane generally parallel to and closely adjacent a side of such vehicle, mounting means pivotally securing such structure to such vehicle to permit outward swinging movement thereof relative to the vehicle, means in the same vertical plane as the lifting structure operative to raise and lower such structure,

a support element extending from one side of the lifting structure and maintained thereby in a horizontal plane at all times during raising and lowering of such structure, a work supporting platform tiltably mounted on said support element, and means adapted selectively to secure such platform in horizontal load supporting position and in a vertical plane substantially that of said lifting structure whereby the platform may be disposed fiat against the side of the vehicle when not in use.

16. Lifting means for use in the side loading of a vehicle comprising a lifting structure disposed in a vertical plane generally parallel to and closely adjacent a side of such vehicle, mounting means pivotally securing such structure to such vehicle to permit outward swinging movement thereof relative to the vehicle, fluid pressure means in the same vertical plane as the lifting structure operative to raise and lower such structure, a support element extending from one side of the lifting structure and maintained thereby in a horizontal plane at all times during raising and lowering of such structure, a work supporting platform tiltably mounted on said support element, and means adapted selectively to secure such platform in horizontal load supporting position and in a vertical plane substantially that of said lifting structure whereby the platform may be disposed flat against the side of the vehicle when not in use.

17. Lifting means for use in the side loading of a vehicle comprising a lifting structure disposed in a vertical plane generally parallel to and closely adjacent a side of such vehicle, means pivotally securing such structure to the vehicle on a vertical axis adjacent a front corner of the load carrying body thereof, fluid pressure means in the same vertical plane as the lifting structure operative to raise and lower such structure, a support element extending from one side of the lifting structure and maintained thereby in a horizontal plane at all times during raising and lowering of such structure, a work supporting platform tiltably mounted on said support element, and means adapted selectively to secure such platform in horizontal load supporting position and in a vertical plane substantially that of said lifting structure whereby the platform may be disposed flat against the side of the vehicle when not in ALFRED F. FOO'I'E.

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